Out of town fish imposters are moving through the seafood chain. At one point, the big concern was fish and where it originated, now shellfish are being passed off as local. One Louisiana lawmaker felt it was important to step in with legislation.
Senator Pat Connick authored the legislation for Senate Bill 166 that has been signed into law in as Act no. 148 in order to push for more truth in advertising when it comes to restaurants, markets, and grocers that sell seafood.
“The consumer needs to know what they are eating. Is it domestic? Is it foreign? Just tell us.”
The new rules bolster similar requirements passed before by adding new penalties and including a notice for shellfish either printed in the menu or, in cases where the restaurant does not have a menu, a well-displayed sign.
According to Connick, however, not everyone was on board with new measure. “The Restaurant Association, the retailers, and importers had concerns, but when you the facts, you have to do what’s right.”
The Senator says that transparency is the ultimate goal here as everyone has the right to business as the see fit.
“Sellers definitely have the right to buy foreign, but consumers have the right to know where what they are buying comes from. And that’s what this bill does.”
Enforcement for the new law will be through the Louisiana Department of Health.
